Protective Effects of Phycocyanin on Galactosamine-induced Hepatitis in Rats

This study was performed to determine the potential hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of the microalgae pigment phycocyanin in galactosamine-induced acute liver damage in rats. Phycocyanin (50-200 mg kg i.p) was administered one hour before the galactosamine (600 mg kg i.p) and the blood was extracted 24 hours later to determine alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum. The livers were removed to evaluate damage using optic and electron microscopy. Phycocyanin reduced ALT and AST activities as well as MDA concentrations in the serum. It also decreased necrosis and inflammation in the liver compared to the controls treated only with galactosamine. These results indicate that phycocyanin exerts hepatoprotective and antiinflammatory effects in this human hepatitis animal model.